Promotion canceled for Pittsburgh-area company

Groupon has halted gun-related promotions, such as deals for shooting ranges and concealed weapons courses, in the wake of last month's massacre in Newtown, Conn.

Groupon Inc. spokeswoman Julie Mossler said Tuesday that the move is based on the deals' performances as well as "current customer and merchant feedback." These, she said, have made it "clear they're not a fit right now."

In Pittsburgh, Groupon started offering discounts a few weeks ago for Inpax, a company that does self-defense and weapons training, but the promotion was abruptly canceled on the first day.

“Training, like Inpax, is not just about fighting back. It's about living in the world. It's about how to live in a world where not everything is safe,” said Linda Jordan Platt, a La Roche College professor and Inpax client.

In an email to Rosenberg, a Groupon representative said the promotion was “no longer appropriate to be featured on our site ... out of respect for past situations and unfortunately future situations that may take place.”

Inpax President Sam Rosenberg said Groupon’s decision was a puzzling one, especially since a lot of the training he does is with school districts.

“I would think Groupon would be behind something like that as part of solution to problems we see in our society, rather than a blatant, biased, 'If you touch a gun, we're not going to get involved with you,’” said Rosenberg.

The 40 people who signed up for the Inpax Groupon discount will still be able to use them. Rosenberg said he will also offer discounts to anyone who emailed him hoping to get a Groupon deal, and that he does not plan to take any legal action.

The shooting in Newtown has intensified the gun control debate in the U.S. and has led other companies, such as Dick's Sporting Goods, to scale back gun-related business activity, at least temporarily.